Brighton and Burnley still eyeing Bolton's Luca Connell

Wanderers face continued pressure to cash-in on top prospect Luca Connell despite the close of the transfer window.

The 17-year-old limped out of Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Preston North End with a calf strain but is now subject to serious interest from Premier League Brighton and Burnley.

A bid of £300,000 is rumoured to have been made by Chris Hughton’s Albion, who also had two attempts to sign the versatile midfielder turned down before deadline day.

Connell is currently in the last six months of a second-year scholar contract so would be able to move outside the window if Bolton accepted a bid, albeit he would not be allowed to play first team football until next season.

Wanderers would be due compensation if he chose to move in the summer but with the short-term financial situation at the club looking increasingly grim, the prospect of raising quick money with a sale could be preferable.

Connell has made a big impact since being fast-tracked into the first team in January and Bolton have made attempts to tie him down to a longer contract, thus far without success.

Phil Parkinson said the physical demands placed on the youngster in recent weeks may have been a contributing factor to the injury which forced him off the pitch against Preston.

Connell looks unlikely to face Birmingham City tomorrow night – but Wanderers could welcome back defender Mark Beevers after he returned to training after an Achilles problem.

“It is a shame for Luca but he has been absolutely outstanding,” Parkinson said.

“His performance at Sheffield United was top drawer but the demands of training at first team level and playing in a high-energy local derby like that are difficult at times.

“We will get him patched up and get him ready sooner rather than later.”

Jonathan Grounds will be unavailable to play against his parent club, and with Andy Taylor also nursing an injury Bolton could turn to loanee Callum Connolly on the left side of defence.

“Callum did great when he went to left-back,” Parkinson noted on Saturday. “Groundsy knows he was off the pace and got exposed by a very good player in Tom Barkhuizen.”

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As i said on the takeover thread, the club need to get him to sign another deal so that when he does go we at least get a decent amount for him. Its like we are a league 2 side already, letting young players go for a pittance to balance the books.

As for Grounds, he is stealing a living.

With the club in turmoil and wide interest in Connell and Anderson not having the money, what would induce Connell to sign for us?
His agent - and I'd be surprised if he doesn't have one already - would surely advise him to hold out until he is sold, or the club goes under or BWFC put an offer on the table he couldn't refuse which won't happen.
Without a new owner I can't see him staying.

I'm sure it happens all the time where players sign an extension knowing there is interest and they are more than likely to move on. It just ensures we get a decent amount for him or risk having to go to a tribunal. 
We all know he's going to move on (including the club and the player) but you'd hope he would help us out as we did give him his break in football.